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What Should I Know Before Buying a Boat?
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El and Bill



Joined: 08 Nov 2003
Posts: 3200
City/Region: Lakewood, CO
State or Province: CO
C-Dory Year: 2000
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Halcyon
Photos: Halcyon
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:31 pm    Post subject: What Should I Know Before Buying a Boat? Reply with quote

Before buying a boat, what are the major factors to consider? In other words, if someone asks you, "What should I know before buying a boat?", what would you answer?

This is the procedure we suggest to help make a decision:

1. What is your purpose for your boat?

Mostly day trips? Mostly fishing trips? Mostly short several day overnight trips? Mostly for long distance cruising?

Or, put another way, out of your time on the boat, what percentage for each of the above uses. How you intend to use your boat dictates the boat, to a large degree.


2. Are you going to trailer your boat?

a) If no, then it opens a whole different ball game.

b) If yes, do you need the easiest boat to trailer?


3. How deep are your pockets?

Bigger boats cost more, not just to purchase, but to operate.

4. What level of comfort do you need (not want, but need)? Do you need an enclosed head? Do you need more 'elbow room? And how do you balance your needs with questions 1-3 above?

5. How fast do you want to go? A planing boat can go faster than a displacement boat. If you want to "push" a displacement boat to the limit, you generally put all that extra fuel into making a bigger wave. The laws of physics place limits on the ability of a hull to displace water. Planing? -- sky (literally) is the limit.

a) With a Dory hull, we feel we must go slowly in any waves of size -- so, in heavy weather we are generally moving 5-7k max -- we are then a displacement boat, so our planing hull is not being used. There are advantages and disadvantages to this slower speed.

6. Did you consider the reputation of the manufacturer and the dealer, and talk (or read) comments by owners? How well-built is the boat?

These are some of the questions the answers to which help dictate the size, kind, and brand boat you might wish to purchase.

How about the rest of you Brats? Other basic factors to consider?

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El and Bill (former live-aboards)
Halcyon 2000 CD 22 Bought 2000 Sold 2012
http://cruisingamerica-halcyondays.com/
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DaveS



Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 3204
City/Region: Arlington
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Shift
Photos: Sea Shift
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does your wife want a boat? Wink

If so it's best to get her input and have her "onboard" all the way.

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Dave S.
"Sea Shift"
C-Brat #16
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Papillon



Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 949
City/Region: DeBary, Fl. *On the St. John's River*
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Angler
Vessel Name: Papillon
Photos: Papillon
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
"What should I know before buying a boat?",


Have I got a deal for you....

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Mike Taylor
330-936-1030

1993 Angler-02' 115 Suzuki 4 Stroke
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B~C



Joined: 31 Oct 2003
Posts: 2858
City/Region: Bend
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1999
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Blue~C
Photos: Blue~C
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

most excellent topic. here's a few more


7. How does the spousal unit feel about boating?
A boat can consume a fair portion of time and money and can be a source of friction if one party doesn't enjoy the sport

8. How big of a fuel bill do you want?
It does no good to have the ideal boat if you cringe every time you fill the tank, $2 a gallon is history, when gas hits $5 a gallon, then what.

9. Does the boat come with a free membership into a swell internet yacht club?
if not,welll, then it aint a C-Dory

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Ken
1999 22' boaterhome


Last edited by B~C on Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:44 pm; edited 1 time in total
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SEA3PO



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 1835
City/Region: Chester
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SEA3PO
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

10: How long will I be in the hospital...

11. Do I really need all those teeth??

12. Will the Dog like it ??

Joel
SEA3PO
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Chris Bulovsky



Joined: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 358
City/Region: Washburn
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 1998
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SCOUT
Photos: SCOUT
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

13:How much time do you have to boat? Will you use it?

Chris[/b]
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Dora~Jean



Joined: 09 Mar 2004
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Vessel Name: Dora~Jean
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

14. Are you comfortable (and enjoy) anchoring out alone in a quiet cove say at an island? Or is your idea of boat camping tied to a dock with an electrical umbilical cord?

15. Do you generally call a shore boat (taxi) to take you back and forth to your boat, or do you prefer your own dingy?

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Steve
"Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance" (Samuel Johnson)
Dora~Jean C-Dory 25 2002-Present
Corsair F-31 Trimaran 1996-2002
MacGregor 26X 1988-1996
Glaspar Seafair Sedan 18 (2)
StarCraft 19 & 22
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teflonmom



Joined: 16 May 2004
Posts: 415
City/Region: Red Lion
State or Province: PA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Snickers AUG 08
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:16 pm    Post subject: Before buying a boat Reply with quote

Hi all,

Bill started with some good questions. Think them over.

I will add a little story of how we came to own a C-Dory. We started our cruising boat ownership with a Nimble Nomad and a 50 HP Honda. Really a lot of boat in 24 feet. We trailered all over the Chesapeake Bay, to NY and the Erie Canal and to Florida most winters. We really had fun, but, we got the idea that if we had hot water, a shower, a real marine head, a gen set, heat and air, a crane for the dink then we could really enjoy ourselves. We found and purchased an almost new Monk 36 with all of the above. The boat was easy on diesel, but, only made 8 knots on a good day. The trip home from Florida was two weeks instead of two days on the trailer. Did I mention that a boat that big costs a lot to keep in a slip and takes 3-4 hours to wash. The Monk had only a little bright work, but something always needed sanding and varnish. We could no longer go to the Erie Canal with a 6 hour drive.

We downsized to a Rosborough 246 on a trailer and it was a fine boat, but when we wanted a small motor home it was too big to tow. So now we have a CD-22

We seem to have just as much fun cruising on the 22 footer as any of our other boats. The enclosed house is pleasant even on rainy days. We don,'t worry about the sewer hose smelling or the electric head not working. Our hot water heater always works(a tea kettle). The air conditioning never breaks down and a swim or a quick wash with a sun shower keeps us smelling OK if we do not find a shower ashore. The costs are very low $000 for slip fees and the Honda just sips fuel. Plus we get to be part of this wonderful C-Dory family.

Bill and El and many other CD owners have covered a lot of water in our boats so think long and hard about your choice of water craft.

Fred and Pat Messerly and Mr. Grey

Red Lion, Pa.

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Pat & Fred Messerly
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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent questions.
One other I would ask is do you want to keep it in the water--not just because of trailering, but because of costs, location, and the comradery which comes with "Dock mates".

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Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
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Papillon



Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 949
City/Region: DeBary, Fl. *On the St. John's River*
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Angler
Vessel Name: Papillon
Photos: Papillon
PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
9. Does the boat come with a free membership into a swell internet yacht club?
welll, then it aint a C-Dory
_________________
Ken
1999 22' boaterhome


(In the event I am miss reading this statement)

I beg to differ Ken, The C-Dory Boat does come with the greatest internet yacht club I have every had the honor to belong too. We have recepitory agreements coast to coast and the welcome matt is always out. We have annual and regional meetings (Geatherings) almost every month of the year. If I were buying a boat today...I wouldn't have to look very far before I realized the benefits of the C-Dory Boat
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Doryman



Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 3807
City/Region: Anacortes
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Lori Ann
Photos: Lori Ann
PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

16. Do you expect to usually have people to crew for you, or will you more often go out alone? If the latter, be sure to evaluate how easy it is to perform the major boating functions solo. In particular, walk through what you have to do when docking. In my case, I usually go fishing solo and I don't think I would have bought my TC255 if it did not have the aft (cockpit) helm option.

The biggest compromise I made was in not getting a boat with an easier way to go forward than the "ledge" (what's the nautical term?). I decided I could run the boat from the cockpit and only seldom go forward and if need be, I can do that through the hatch.

Warren

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Doryman
M/V Lori Ann
TomCat 255, Hull #55, 150 Yamahas
Anacortes, WA
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B~C



Joined: 31 Oct 2003
Posts: 2858
City/Region: Bend
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1999
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Blue~C
Photos: Blue~C
PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Papillon- verbage error, now corrected Smile
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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In reference to Warren's comments on docking: Although I do realize that docking may be easier with a helm and shifter station in the cockpit, we have no problem with docking, and reaching a cleat, bull rail etc from the pilothouse window (and the D ring I have on the deck for a spring line)
Once the spring line is on the dock, the boat is fully under control. I do this fairly frequently alone--and find it much easier than many other boats we have owned.
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tejohnsrude



Joined: 12 Jul 2006
Posts: 25
City/Region: Bremerton
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Darlene Mae
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:46 pm    Post subject: Buying a C-dory--legal stuff Reply with quote

I am in the market for a late model C-dory 22. What do I need to get from seller so that matters of liens, clear titles and other such sticky potential problems can be avoided? I have recently had problems with a bank which did not send info to the USCG as to release of liens - as required by law - even though the boat was completely paid off almost 14 years ago. No clear title yet. My attorney is getting busy. A real headache that I do not wish to repeat. So--anything I need to do to prevent a repeat of this problem later on? Help!!
Ted J
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john schuler



Joined: 23 Jan 2005
Posts: 142
City/Region: Missoula, Montana
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Clara (sold)
PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:35 pm    Post subject: get a boat Reply with quote

17. Have you wanted one sence the 5 grade? If so what are you waiting for
your health to get better. Get it NOW.
CoolSmile john CoolSmile
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